There is one fewer Josh Allen in the NFL.
Sort of.
The Jacksonville Jaguars pass rusher by that name will now go by Josh Hines-Allen, he announced Tuesday. He is changing his last name to pay homage to the maternal side of his family.
“Legacy is forever, and I’m proud to carry that tradition on the back of my jersey, following in the footsteps of my family, who have donned the Hines-Allen last name with so much pride and joy,” Hines-Allen wrote Tuesday on the social media website X.
Since he entered the NFL in 2019, Hines-Allen had used the same name as Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, who debuted one year earlier and is among the sport’s biggest stars. Hines-Allen is no slouch either, having earned two Pro Bowl selections, including last year when he recorded a career-high 17.5 sacks.
Hines-Allen, 26, will now use the same last name as Myisha Hines-Allen, his sister, who plays for the WNBA’s Washington Mystics. His sisters Kyra Hines-Allen and LaTorri Hines-Allen played college basketball, while his uncle Gregory Hines was drafted by the Golden State Warriors.
Tuesday’s announcement came three months after the Jaguars signed Hines-Allen to a five-year, $150 million extension. Hines-Allen, who boasts 45 sacks through his first five NFL seasons, was selected No. 7 overall in the 2019 NFL Draft, one pick after Giants took quarterback Daniel Jones.
